Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index finished down 1.6 per cent, slipping more than 3 per cent at one point, partly reflecting weaknesses in the region during the Lunar New Year holiday period when the city-state bourse was shut.

Stocks in Malaysia lost about 1 per cent on resuming trade after a four-day weekend. Indonesia extended losses for a second day, pulled further away from a near six-month closing high hit late last week.

Thailand and the Philippines ended slightly higher, reversing weaknesses in the early trading hours, in line with Asian stocks which were marginally down by 0.08 per cent.